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January 28, 2018

Victory Through Persistence, Part 2

“Then Nebuchadnezzar
spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who
hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have
changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve
nor worship any god, except their own God.”—Daniel 3:28 (KJV)

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The image
above sends a powerful message. It shows a tree growing on a barren
mountaintop. There are no other trees, and there is no soil at all. It makes absolutely
no sense that this plant is able to thrive in the crevice of a rock.

This is a
powerful illustration of perseverance.

Last week, I wrote about some examples of persistence
here
I will continue that theme in this article.

A Biblical Example

In Daniel, Chapter 3,
we meet the three Hebrew young men: Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. They live
in Babylon, which is ruled by King Nebuchadnezzar. The king has a golden idol
built. He orders that all residents who don’t worship the idol be thrown into a
fiery furnace.

The three teenagers
refuse to follow the order, and they are thrown into the furnace. It’s turned up
seven times hotter than usual. It burns the guards who throw the prisoners in.

What
happened next? Here is the list of victories:

A fourth
being appears in the furnace.

The bonds are
burned off the three friends.

The young
men aren’t singed, and they don’t even smell like smoke.

Nebuchadnezzar
decrees that everyone must respect the god of Israel“

Weird Science” on National
Geographic Channel

Honey Bees and Japanese Giant Hornet

We know that
hornets are larger than bees. The Japanese Giant Hornet is even more
awe-inspiring:

Grows to at
least twice the size of honeybees

Has an
exoskeleton that cannot be penetrated by bee stings

Kills over forty human beings a year in Japan

The hornets
like to lay their larvae in honey bees, so they invade the hives. The smaller
animals appear to have no means of defense, so they’ve come up with a unique
way to get rid of the intruder.

One hornet
enters the hive in order to scout it out. If all is well, he will return to his
swarm and let them know they can attack. The bees know they cannot allow the
scout to return and bring his friends, so they surround him. Picture this: 20,000
to 30,000 bees completely enclose
him.

Next, the entire
colony of bees starts vibrating, which generates heat. The hornet dies when the
temperature in the hive reaches 117°. The amazing fact is that the bees wouldperish at 118°. One degree is the slim difference between life and death!

We can assume
some of the bees closest to the hornet die. However, in the process, they save
thousands of their comrades.

Prairie Dogs and Rattlesnake

This is
another case of groups of animals working together to protect themselves
against one powerful predator. Prairie dogs are sociable animals. They live in
colonies. They also have lookouts who warn the others of approaching danger.

In this
story, a prairie dog group (coterie) is notified a rattlesnake is approaching. Their
first defensive move is to send their young back into the burrow for safety.

Following
this, about a dozen adults circle the snake and nip at him. I’m not sure how
much they actually hurt the snake, but they certainly frustrate him. The prairie dogs are quick and agile; they
easily avoid the snake’s bite. The reptile decides this meal is too much
trouble, and he leaves to find easier prey.

My Conclusion

Both nature
and the Bible teach us methods for conquering the odds through perseverance.
The scriptures show us faith is rewarded in the end. The animal kingdom demonstrates
strength in numbers. Animals also illustrate how a few can make sacrifices for
the sake of the whole group.